Monocular viewer and recorder

Abstract

A refocusing device for an optical image display consisting of back-to-back optical eyepieces and other optical elements that creates at least one additional displaced optical image and permits reverse viewing through optical imaging systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:  
     
       1. A peep-scope for refocusing a first visible light image, projected from inside the housing of an optical imager and focused through an iris centered on the basic optical axis of said imager onto a first focal plane, so as to form a second visible image in at least a second focal plane further from the imager than said first focal plane: said peep-scope comprising: 
       a common housing tube with a central longitudinal optical axis that intersects and defines an extension of said basic optical axis;  
       two eyepieces, said eyepieces each having spaced objective and imaging lens sets mounted in said common housing tube on said longitudinal optical axis, said imaging sets being spaced from the center of said tube near the opposite ends of said tube with said objective sets being located near the center of said tube;  
       a tubular input adapter means mounted at one end of said tube to define said one end as an input end and to engage said tube and imager housing and to maintain alignment of said longitudinal axis with said light image as well as the spacing of said common housing tube from said imager such that the input focal plane of the eyepiece nearest said input end lies in said adapter means at said first focal plane; and  
       an eyecup mounted at the opposite output end of said tube to define said opposite end as an output end and to engage the eye socket of a human user thereby placing the output focal plane of the eyepiece at said output end on the retina of the user's eye which represents said second focal plane.  
     
     
       2. A peep-scope according to  claim 1 ; wherein: 
       said input adapter means forms an extension of the wall of said tube with a side window frame in said extension between said input focal plane and said imager; and  
       a beam-splitter is mounted in said input adapter means centered on said longitudinal axis between said input focal plane and said imager, said splitter being oriented to reflect a third image through said window frame to a third focal plane outside said tube centered normally on a secondary optical axis that intersects said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       3. A peep-scope according to  claim 2 ; wherein: 
       said window frame serves as a mounting means to support a camera with its focal plane in said third focal plane.  
     
     
       4. A peep-scope according to  claim 3 ; further including: 
       a central processor means mounted in the center of said tube to increase the luminance of said second image.  
     
     
       5. A peep-scope according to  claim 4 ; wherein said central processor includes: 
       a bundle of fiber optics twisted 180° about the optical axis mounted in the center of said tube to invert the image therein.  
     
     
       6. A peep-scope according to  claim 5 ; wherein said central processor further includes: 
       a wafer type image intensifier tube to increase the luminance of the image therein.  
     
     
       7. A peep-scope according to  claim 4 ; wherein said central processor includes: 
       a wafer type image intensifier tube means to increase the luminance of the image therein.  
     
     
       8. A peep-scope according to  claim 4 , wherein said central processor includes: 
       an image intensifier tube means with an internal image inverter to increase the luminance and invert the orientation of the image therein.  
     
     
       9. A peep-scope according to  claim 1 ; wherein said tube includes: 
       two tubular housings, one for each of said eyepieces, joined by a central tubular adapter means to align the optical axes of said eyepieces.  
     
     
       10. A peep-scope according to  claim 9 ; wherein: 
       said input adapter means forms an extension of the wall of said tube with a side window frame in said extension near said one end; and  
       a beam-splitter is mounted in said input adapter means centered on said longitudinal axis between said first focal plane and said imager to reflect a third image through said side window frame to a third focal plane outside said tube on a secondary optical axis that intersects said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       11. A peep-scope according to  claim 9 , wherein said input adapter means includes: 
       a window frame means attached to said tube to support a video camera with its focal plane centered in said third focal plane.